Diego Simeone appeared to push Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta in the closing stages of the Gunners' 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final
22:38, 05 May 2026
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone appeared to push Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta on the touchline
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Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone appeared to push Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta on the touchline
Diego Simeone appeared to shove Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta near the climax of the Gunners' Champions League triumph over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Atletico boss Simeone cut a frustrated figure on the sideline as his side desperately searched for a late equaliser at the Emirates Stadium. The Argentine's anger erupted when former Atleti chief Berta, who collaborated with Simeone for over 12 years in Madrid, attempted to catch referee Daniel Siebert's eye.
As the clock entered the fifth minute of added time, Berta was keen for Siebert to sound the final whistle, and it's fair to say Simeone was absolutely livid with the Arsenal official. Simeone stormed across from his technical area to confront an agitated Berta before shoving him towards the tunnel.
Arsenal are through to the Champions League final
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Arsenal are through to the Champions League final(Image: Getty Images)
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Personnel from both clubs intervened to separate Simeone and Berta before a UEFA representative moved in to defuse the tension. Simeone then returned to his dugout and barked orders at his players as they desperately sought a leveller.
Atletico were behind 2-1 in the tie and 1-0 on the evening following Bukayo Saka's first-half strike for the Gunners. Saka slotted home from point-blank range after Leandro Trossard's attempt was parried by Jan Oblak, reports the Mirror.
Simeone's men created opportunities in the second period to draw level, with Giuliano Simeone and Alexander Sorloth squandering the pick of those chances, but they couldn't convert and bow out at the semi-final hurdle.
For Arsenal, it's their first Champions League final in two decades, and the Gunners are poised to take on the victor of the other semi-final clash between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest later this month.
Following the match, Declan Rice shared his thoughts on the outcome and the atmosphere in the Arsenal dressing room after clinching such a significant victory.
"It is chaos [in the dressing room]," Rice told Amazon Prime. "I don't think you can underestimate what we have done in this competition up to this point.
"I think we have every right to celebrate that moment. The most prestigious competition in club football. We are just trying to soak it all in.
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"We knew coming into the game what was at stake. If you can't get up for that, then you can't get up for any game of football. When we went 1-0 up, I knew we were going to win. I could feel something special building."